This episode explores the unique history and quirky features of Memphis, Tennessee, through an interview with local historian Jimmy Ogle. Against the backdrop of a previous episode about the Memphis Pyramid, the conversation delves into Ogle's extensive career, which includes managing Beale Street, operating the score clock for the Memphis Grizzlies, and even serving as the Peabody Hotel's duck master. More significantly, the discussion highlights Ogle's walking tours, including one focused on the city's diverse manhole covers, each representing a different, now-defunct, early 20th-century telephone company. For instance, the episode details the unique "November 6th, 1934 Street," named to commemorate Memphis joining the TVA, and the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. and B.B. King Boulevards. Furthermore, the interview touches upon the adaptive reuse of spaces in Memphis, exemplified by the transformation of the old River Museum into an immersive experience. The episode concludes with reflections on the changing nature of cities and buildings, highlighting Ogle's perspective on the bittersweet nature of urban transformation and the enduring stories embedded within them.
